Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 580: Charlotte’s First Fight [2]

The creature tried to dodge, but Charlotte had anticipated the movement—her aim tracking its path with surprising accuracy.

BOOM!

The second fireball caught the wolf mid-leap, detonating against its chest and sending it tumbling backward with another pained howl.

FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!

Charlotte didn't stop. She channeled her infinite mana continuously, the Staff of Eternal Flow reducing her casting time to rapid-fire succession. Fireballs erupted from her staff one after another, creating a barrage that gave the wolf no opportunity to recover or close distance.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Each explosion painted the forest clearing in orange light. The wolf tried to advance through the assault, but accumulated damage was overwhelming. Burns covered its body, one eye had been seared shut, and its movements grew sluggish as injury compounded.

Charlotte maintained her distance with tactical awareness that impressed Arthur deeply. Whenever the wolf managed to get within ten meters, she would retreat while continuing her barrage, using trees as obstacles to slow its approach.

FWOOSH! BOOM!

Another fireball struck the wolf's hind leg, and the limb gave out. The creature collapsed with a final whimper, its body too damaged to continue fighting.

Charlotte hesitated, breathing heavily from adrenaline rather than exhaustion. "Is it...?"

FWOOSH! BOOM!

She launched one final fireball to be certain. The spell struck the prone wolf's head, and the creature went still, dissolving into light particles as the system registered its death.

[You have slain a Level 8, Pseudo-Elite Grey Wolf]

[Level Up!]

[You have reached Level 2!]

[You have reached Level 3!]

Charlotte stared at the notifications with wide eyes, her chest heaving as post-combat adrenaline flooded her system. "I... I killed it. I actually killed a monster."

"Not any monster...A pseudo-elite boss."

Arthur approached with a proud smile, noting that Charlotte had maintained perfect form throughout—distance control, continuous pressure, tactical awareness of terrain and positioning.

"You did excellently," Arthur said with genuine approval. "Especially for your first real combat. You maintained distance, didn't panic when it charged, and used your infinite mana exactly as you should—overwhelming firepower through sustained casting."

Charlotte looked down at her hands, then at the staff still glowing faintly with residual magic. "That was... intense. But also kind of amazing? I could feel the mana flowing, and I knew I could keep casting forever if I needed to."

"That's your talent at work," Arthur confirmed. "Most mages at your level could manage maybe three or four fireballs before exhausting their mana. You cast what, fifteen? Twenty? And you weren't even close to running out."

"More like twenty-three," Charlotte said with growing confidence. "I counted. And yeah, I could feel the mana regenerating faster than I was using it. Like trying to empty an ocean with a bucket."

Aether flew down from where he'd been watching, landing on Charlotte's shoulder with obvious excitement. "Master's sister is really good at fighting! The wolf went boom-boom-boom and then died super fast!"

Charlotte laughed, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "Thanks, Aether. Though I think I might have overdone it. That poor wolf didn't stand a chance."

"Never apologize for overwhelming firepower," Arthur said firmly. "In real combat, hesitation kills. You did exactly what you should have—identified the threat and eliminated it decisively."

He gestured deeper into the forest. "Ready for round two? Or do you want to rest first?"

Charlotte's eyes gleamed with newfound confidence as she raised her staff. "Round two. Definitely round two. I want to see how many fireballs it takes to kill something bigger."

Arthur smiled at his sister's enthusiasm, pride swelling in his chest.

SSS-rank Infinite Mana was already proving itself terrifying.

Before attempting round two, Arthur turned to look at something behind them, his spatial senses detecting movement approaching through the forest.

"Huh? What are you looking at?" Charlotte asked, following his gaze toward the woods where nothing appeared visible to her normal perception.

Arthur didn't answer immediately, simply waiting as the footsteps grew louder.

Before long, a group of people emerged from the treeline—five players dressed in matching uniforms that identified them as village guards. They moved with caution, weapons drawn, clearly investigating the magical explosions that had echoed through the forest moments before.

The moment they spotted Arthur, all five guards froze mid-step.

Their eyes widened with instant recognition, faces cycling through shock, awe, and what might have been fear. The lead guard—a middle-aged man with a sword—immediately sheathed his weapon and dropped into a respectful bow, his companions following suit with identical deference.

"S-Sir Fateless!" the lead guard stammered, his voice carrying genuine reverence. "We... we apologize profusely for interrupting! We heard magical combat and thought there might be trouble in the forest, but we had no idea you were here!"

The other guards nodded frantically, their postures radiating nervous respect. One of them—a younger woman with a bow—looked like she might faint from the unexpected encounter.

"The strongest player on Earth," another guard whispered, barely audible. "Actually, here. In our village. I thought he was dead...Just what happened?"

"I heard rumours about him being the reason we turned the tide against the demon invasions," the bowwoman murmured. "It seems like it was indeed true."

Charlotte blinked with confusion, looking between Arthur and the clearly terrified guards. She'd known her brother was powerful—had seen his capabilities firsthand—but this level of immediate recognition and reverence was something else entirely.

Arthur recognized the guards from their uniforms—standard issue for Village #420's security force. These were the people who maintained order in the safe zones and helped new players acclimate to Armageddon's dangers.

As fate decided this encounter, Arthur reached into his spatial storage with casual generosity.

Five pieces of very rare equipment materialized in his hands—three swords of superior craftsmanship, a reinforced chest plate, and an enchanted bow that gleamed with magical enhancement. Each piece was worth more than most players earned in their lifetimes.

He tossed them toward the guards one by one, the equipment floating gently through the air before landing in their stunned hands.